Virgin to retire ATR 72-500, reduce ATR 72-600s, close BNE ATR Crew Base

2 replies

DeepAvThroat

Member since 21 Mar 2017

Total posts 22

This came in today and may break into the aviation media tomorrow but you read it here first :)


Virgin Australia has made its decision on the future of its ATR 72 fleet as part of a 'fleet simplification strategy'.

All six ATR 72-500s will be retired by July 2017 and the ATR 72-600 fleet will be reduced from eight aircraft down to six. Virgin says the remaining ATR72-600s "will operate five lines of flying, predominantly focused on NSW, ACT and VIC.

Virgin will as a result close the BNE ATR Flight Crew Base "to ensure our crew are positioned in the locations which best support the remaining ATR network."

The staff memo issued by John Borghetti today says "we are investigating a number of different options for the future of our Regional Queensland routes currently being serviced primarily by ATRs."

Grannular

Member since 31 Mar 2014

Total posts 284


The staff memo issued by John Borghetti today says "we are investigating a number of different options for the future of our Regional Queensland routes currently being serviced primarily by ATRs."

[/QUOTE]



That's an interesting thing to say. Withdraw the fleet before you know what to replace it with. I feel that was said because they don't want to announce what they will actually do yet. But by wording it this way, it sounds to the general public that again, Virgin are making decisions on the run, without any real plan.

My guess is they will contract Alliance to fly for them. Or... but I think less likely, withdraw completely.


Last editedby Grannular at Mar 22, 2017, 09:20 AM.

wdeguara

Etihad - Etihad Guest

Member since 06 Apr 2012

Total posts 94

Hopefully this will open opportunities for regional carriers such as JetGo, Alliance and AirNorth to service some of these regional QLD ports that Virgin is withdrawing it's ATRs from -  possibly even establishing code shares. An example being the codeshare arrangement that Qantas has with AirNorth to provide the Toowoomba-Melbourne route. 

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